Vincent Gray on Bike Lanes

From The Other 35 Percent via GGW.

"I thought they were high when they did [the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes].  They are really ludicrous."

• Gray doesn't bike, but he supports bike riding and encourages it as energy efficient.
• Reserved bike lanes in some areas of the city (i.e. 9th Street NW) back up traffic.  In other areas, the lack of bike lanes have the same result.  The lanes do not seem well planned.  "I'm not sure we have figured out how to do it yet," said Gray. 
• Pennsylvania Avenue lanes are particularly dangerous.
• My view: I didn't get the impression that installing more bike lanes would be high on Gray's priority list.

There actually aren't bike lanes on 9th street NW (except along the FBI building). There are only bike/bus lanes - which I can assure you do not back up traffic, since traffic pretty much ignores them. (If you move down the street in this google street view, you can watch the car move out of the bus/bike lane to pass the cyclist - who's on his cellphone, sigh - and then move back in and go straight through the intersection).

Comments

[bikermark]

Was there any larger discussion about transportation issues? So far this doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement of Gabe/DDOT.

[Brendan]

I'd rather have a system of speed cameras keeping cars under the speed limits, than bike lanes. The more bike lanes we get, the more speeding cars I have yelling at me to stay in the bike lane, double parkers, FedEx trucks and all.

[Cary Silverman]

Discussion of transportation issues at the Shaw/Mt. Vernon forum was limited. Martin Moulton, a WABA member, asked Vince Gray a specific question about bike lanes. There were also questions asked about increasing revenue for Metro and enforcement of parking laws on Sundays.

[Tim H]

agreed that biking sounds low priority for him... those quotes sound like politician-speak for:

"I like biking... except in comparison to all the 1,000 other things competing for the city's attention and money. Don't count on my support or initiative."

[Chris]

Regarding bike lanes, after all the mis-steps on bike lanes in the city, I don't know how I could find fault with this comment:

"I'm not sure we have figured out how to do it yet," said Gray.

[Joe]

What a jerk. Yet another reason I hope he doesn't get elected. He doesn't seem at all interested in smart growth in this city.